Southhampton, Swindon, Bath, Stonehenge, Wales

We will be arriving in Southhampton on April 24 and will be spending three days in Swindon before going to London. We would like to take the train from Southhampton to Swindon and then do day trips to Bath, Stonehenge and possibly Wales.

Is this easy to do via the rail system? What would be the best rail pass for us to get. We plan on getting a Oyster Pass once we get to London where we will spend another 4 days.

Any suggestions on local tours for Bath and Stonehenge would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Bob and Mary

Bath and (South) Wales should not be a problem with fast direct trains.

Stonehenge will be a bit of a pain.

Easiest option would be to take a half day tour from Bath, (Mad Max and Scapa Tours run daily afternoon tours in minibuses from there)

If you want a bit of an adventure, you can get a Hants & Dorset public bus from Swindon (I think its hourly except Sundays) to Avebury. This is a bigger henge than Stonehenge and unlike Stonehenge has totally free access. The same bus you got to Avebury goes onto Pewsey where it connects with another bus to Salisbury. If you get off at Amesbury its a 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride up to Stonehenge.

I think there is a day ticket you can buy on the bus so its quite inexpensive, but you'd have to study the timetables.